I'm staying in Arlington in a few weeks, near the Francis Scott Key Bridge and am looking for "dive bar" recommendations.

I'm not looking for a place to have a knife fight, but just a somewhat skeezy place to drink. Preferably with a jukebox.

Rosslyn (i.e., the Key Bridge area) is just a couple of Metro (Orange Line) stops away from the Clarendon area of Arlington which has a fair amount of neighborhood-type bars, especially along Wilson Boulevard. Nothing really divey anymore (rents these days are just too high) and probably a few too many hipster-wannabes, but there are a number of decent places for a drink or few. When I first graduated from college there were still some nudie bars and "massage" places just up the hill from Rosslyn, but those days are long gone.
Clarendon bars

I think some of the bars on M Street and Wisconsin are pretty divey. Some suggestions being; Old Glory, Saloun, The Guards, & Third Edition.

before you were born, i guess, rosslyn was pawn shops and whore houses. rosslyn was recreated in the 60's. m st beyond wisconson ave was pretty shabby also.

A short drive into D.C. will soon produce the ambience you seek. You will soon find what you seek. Then again, ask the hotel staff about where to go.

Jay's Saloon in Clarendon (just a couple of stops up on the metro in Arlington) is probably the best dive bar in the area - from the Key Bridge, take the metro up to Clarendon & walk up Wilson Blvd towards the Hess gas station & make a left on Fairfax (maybe called 10th street too) & Jay's is about 2 blocks up on the left, right past the Avis sign & near a small unbranded car dealership. After drinking, you can grab a slice of pizza late night at Mario's Pizza House (right up from the Hess station on Wilson - best pizza in town! - they're open til 4AM).

Also, there's a good dive bar in Ballston - but I can't remember the name of it as its been a while since I've been there - it's on Fairfax as well & sort of next to the 7-11 & the Food Factory Indian restaurant - it's got a yellow sign.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...file&id=795123 - Jay's Saloon

If you're staying at the Key Bridge, there's not really much in Georgetown or Rosalyn, unfortunately. Cowboy Cafe is also nearby, but I don't think it's metro accessible & you'd have to cab it both ways from Key Bridge (unless you have a car - and if you plan on drinking & driving, it's a pretty straight shot down Rt. 29 to get back, but there are often cops on that road). Here's a review of Cowboy Cafe - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...0601817_4.html (if you read the whole article, it'll mention Dr. Dremo's in Arlington, that place has sadly closed down).

Not before I was born, but I didn't arrive in DC until the 70s as a lowly Hoya freshman. I still remember the stench of Georgetown's Hopfenmaier rendering plant, and Georgetown, Arlington and Alexandria were TEEMING with divey bars.

Thanks for the suggestions. I ended up going to a place called "The Continental" a pool hall, pretty close to the Rosslyn station. It was cool and they had a good jukebox. Also apparently I went on half priced burger night, which the burgers were very good.